In a statement, the province said it respects the Indian Act regarding potential provincial taxes on cannabis sales on-reserve. Officials are still working out how the province will divvy up taxes collected on marijuana, and release the plan in this spring's budget.

Some Cree leaders say there are pros and cons to selling marijuana on-reserve once it's legal, while others would rather steer clear. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)

At Onion Lake, Chief Wallace Fox remembered fighting the province over on-reserve casinos decades ago, and maintained the province has no business telling band members what they can or cannot do.

"The province should have no jurisdiction on First Nations Crown land," said Fox, who admitted other chiefs see legalized cannabis sales as a business opportunity.

Fox said his community gets the final say.

"There needs to be a lot of education and awareness sessions on this," he said.